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Show 1989 Openings PageC-- 7 Despite toss starters, Lady Utes still stiiroinig off sisters, Smith and Brooks to form core of defending Alcorn By Jim Burton o J fz It would appear, looking at a few carefully selected statistics, that Lady Ute head basketball Coach Elaine Elliott has an uphill battle to fight this season. Elliott, entering her seventh year as Utah's head coach, has never finished lower than second in the High Country Athletic Conference final standings. In three of her six years at Utah, she has lead her seasons. In two teams to n $r 20-wi- others the teams have won 19 she has lead the Twice Lady games. Utes to the NCAA tournaments, and once to the NIT. Last year the Lady Utes went 24-- 6 and won the HCAC for the third time in four seasons. Her record at the U. is 119-5But not all the numbers are so 4. positive. Three starters from last year's championship team are now gone. Gina Butters, Cindy Lindsay and Stephie Wartin all put up quality numbers last year. Butters, all conference guard, averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 a Jr" ft .- - : ' Jfl rebounds and 5.7 assists per game and was Utah's leading scorer. ; Czs Junior Brenda Alcorn drives for a lay-u- p in action last season. The Lady Utes will be gunning to repeat as HCAC champions. QF3PQNSNT San Jose, Ca. Berkley, Ca. Dec. 5 San Jose State California Lady Ute Classic Weber State Etec 9 Montana Dec. 18 Dec. 20-2-1 Cal Eastern Washington Seattle Tunes Classic Jan. 2 Montana State Dec.1-- 2 Poly-Pomo- na Salt Lake City Ogden, Ut. Salt Lake City Salt Lake City Cheney, Wash. Seattle, Wash. Salt Lake City with junior guard Melanee season. Alcorn (Karen's sister) to form the core of the Lady Utes. The one big question mark for Utah will be the center position. This is where Wartin's departure will hurt. At the forward and guard spot last year, Elliott always had conference forward, averaged 13.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and was the Lady Utes' leading rebounder. Wartin, a center averaged 7.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Elliott's dilemma is an obvious one. She's been so successful at the helm of the Lady Utes that there's constant pressure to win. Add to that the fact that she's lost three of her best players ever, and no one a coach you want players who heirs-appare- fan. 6 i Jan. 12 Jan. 20 Jan. 22 Jan. 27 Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. 1 3 5 9 athletes, coaches, donators The Crimson Club, a Utah athletics booster group, has been honoring former university athletes, coaches and staff with a hall of fame of its own. Many say such a shrine has been a long time coming. (tennis), Roy L. Jefferson (football), H. Blane Lindgren (track and field), Billy McGill (basketball), Vadal Peterson (basketball coach) and Mark Seedie (football). In 1987, the club sought to combine its annual banquet, which usually took place in the fall, with the annual Senior assistant executive director of Awards Banquet for all senior the club, since the hall's 1985 athletes, which is slated for the beginning her group has been spring. Because of the switch, According to Carolyn Johnson, working hard to make sure no Utah great from years past goes unnoticed. "We've been going through old files and records," Johnson said, "making sure we don't miss anyone who might deserve the honor. Since the hall is so new, we've been doing lots of background work, looking for some old All-Americ- an athletes." Since '85, the Crimson Club has inducted 17 members into its hall of fame. In the first year, - Frank Christensen (football), Arnie Ferrin (basketball), Vern Gardner (basketball), Thornton "Spide" Morris (football) and Larry Wilson (football) were honored. The next year, 1986, saw the inductions of Ike J. Armstrong (football coach), David 1. Freed no selections were made. Last year, the club inducted Jerry Chambers (basketball), Jack Gardner (basketball coach), C. Fred Gehrke (football), James R. (Bud) Jack (administrator) and Suzy Harris Ryting. This year's selections were the late Walt Deland (trainer), Jim Gaddis (skiing), Mike Garibaldi (swimming), Harry James (tennis about five minutes playing time, she managed about two rebounds a nt game. "The center spot is the one I'm most concerned about," Elliott said. "We don't have a lot of experience returning at that position." With four newcomers joining the none of which are Lady Utes Elliott remains optimistic centers " about another successful season. "Talent and attitude are two things that get you through the tough points in a season. Our conference will be very competitive this year; and for us to win, we'll have to be a solid team. The team is young right now, and it doesn't really have a true personality yet. It will be interesting to get the season underway and see what it is," she said. , Given her . - past coaching statistics, everything will work out Smith and Alcorn will combine Colorado Idaho State Southern Utah State Southern Utah State Idaho Slate BYU New Mexico State Creighton Weber State "Colorado State ' Salt Lake City Pocatello, Id. Salt Lake City Cedar City, Ut Salt Lake City Salt Lake City Las Cruces, NM Omaha, Neb. Salt Lake City Salt Lake City Feb. 10 Feb. 16 Feb. 17 Feb. 23 Feb. 24 Mar. 3 Mar. just The University of Utah Blood Donor Program is looking Tor healthy blood donors of all types. As a!blood donor you become a vital element in the care of critically ill patients. There is a need for approximately 75,000 units of blood or blood products each year in Utah alone. The Blood Donor Center usually has a mobile blood drive on campus once or twice each month. We will also reserve special lime for groups or individuals at the Blood Donor Center upon request. We'll say thanks for donating by offering you a For more free meal or movie ticket. call. us a information, please give 'Creighton New Mexico State Laramie, Wyo, Ft. Collins, Colo. Provo, Ut Salt Lake City 'Wyoming Colorado State BYU HCAC 9 HCAC game All home games will be played in the Jon M. Huntsman Center , Give from the heart. , I0ir 'n mm hj We invite you to RECYCLE LIFE II jf II f I m l (I1VE BLOOD!! U-- vJ ''21'.'?",,M UNIVERSITY OF UTAH champions). There are five categories under which the Crimson Club accepts nominations: 1) Former athletes who have not played for the U. in at least 15 years. 2) Coaches 3) Entire teams 4) Staff members and 5) Contributors. 581-268- Jim Burton 8-- Salt Lake City Salt Lake City Salt Lake City Wyoming . WE WELCOME YOU TO THE "U"! , , game. Zachary, who can also play the forward spot, averaged 6.7 minutes a game. She averaged just over two points and rebounds a game. is a true Nelson, at center. Last season, in an average of problem." Mike Newlin the Utah 1944 and (basketball) team (NCAA basketball coach), seven minutes playing time a finding replacements. Not when she's got junior Kristi Smith and sophomore Karen Alcorn on the team. Smith and Alcorn are the obvious to Lindsay and Butters. Alcorn, a guard, averaged 7.7 points and 2.0 rebounds a game last season. forward, Smith, a 11.9 averaged points and 5.4 rebounds a game. Each player averaged about 20 minutes a game last season, so inexperience won't be a factor. "Karen and Kristi will step right in a contribute for us, " Elliott said. "They both have the playing time and the experience to take over. If we want to be successful like last year, we've got to create that same atmosphere. That will be hard to do because our seniors (Lindsay, Butters and Wartin) were the team leaders. It's too early to tell right now who will step in and be a leader, but I don't think it will be a Crimson Club honors former What athlete doesn't dream of making it to the Hall of Fame? Smith and Alcorn sitting on the bench, waiting to relieve Butters or Lindsay. But Wartin's backup were Tanya Zachary and Cathy Nelson, and neither averaged more than want to improve themselves. You just have to rise to the occasion." As far as losing Lindsay, Butters and Wartin, Elliott will take that in stride, too. She is definitely not about BLOOD DONOR PROGRAM 6 n and forward Brenda But oddly enough, the former Boise State standout is just fine, thank you. Her coaching philosophy seems to negate any pressure that there might be to win again this year. "I like to have players who like to improve, " Elliott said. "I think there's pressure to improve, and as worried Brooks-McQuee- Lady Ute Basketball Schedule 1989-8- 0 Nov. 24 Nov. 25 all Lindsay, a champs would blame her for being a bit apprehensive about the upcoming Chronicle Sports Writer J 0 HCAC '""'4,fc . lis Ill I |